Fun time was over.

We didn’t talk as we wound our way through the tunnels, Ezra and I both trying to come to grips with what we were about to do even as we dealt with our ecstatic emotions for each other, while Clyde and Bonnie walked close together without touching, as we had originally instructed them, in front of us, uncannily going the way we needed to. People passed us staring oddly at us for a moment since our appearances were altered, but after a glance at the cubs then back to us, their eyes widened and they silently made room.

Minutes later, Ezra and I snuck a glance at each other before exiting the cave. Only love and fear for each other shone in our eyes, so it was a good thing we were taking to heart Cahal’s advice about not looking at each other, since we were having serious issues hiding our emotions right now.

Nostrils flared, and hovering a smidge closer so I could feel his body heat, Ezra whispered, “Be careful out there.”

My gaze flying over his face, I nodded jerkily. “I know how to handle Coms.” My eyes held his steadily. “Make sure you don’t try any rash barbaric shit out there.” Many emotions warred inside me as I watched his lips lift into a soft, loving — and slightly amused — smile at my demand, but my fear for him…God, the fear I felt knowing he would be out there in the chaotic, vengeful shithole the world had become was riding me the hardest, making my hands tremble.

“Seriously, Ezra. No funny business.” Dear Lord, I had tears welling in my eyes. How far I had fallen. Firmly sniffing back that show of girliness, I whispered, “I’d like for you to come back alive and in one piece, you know?”

I heard Cahal and Antonio both sigh in annoyance/exasperation, but they both took a few steps away, turning their backs to us and giving us privacy, and also conveniently blocking anyone outside from seeing our goodbye.

The barest whisper. “Hush.” Ezra gently cupped my face with one hand, and I leaned into the warmth. “I won’t do anything too awful.” His thumb softly caressed back and forth over my lips in a pseudo kiss, even as I growled softly at his comment. He bent, leveling his face with mine. “This is our first time apart in a year.” His chuckle was more of a grunt. “I’ve got to say, I’m not liking it too much already.”

I agreed one hundred percent. “Just be careful, Ezra. Because if you don’t come back, I’ll find a spell to follow you to the afterlife so I can kick your ass.” There. That was more like me.

Even though his eyes expressed how worried he was, he grinned, his teeth gleaming white against the darkness of his beard. “You could try to kick my ass.” When I snorted, he roughly placed his forehead against mine, barely breathing, “Come back to me, alright?”

I nodded, our foreheads rubbing. “Always.”

His lips brushed mine. The gentlest of strokes. “Always.”

Little by little, as if we were unbreakably connected, we stepped back from each other.

My gaze never left his. “It’s time.”

He nodded once, readjusting his duffle over his shoulder, and said firmly, “It’s time.”

Out on the sand Elder Kincaid met me, pulling me aside. “I got you a parting gift.” He held out a narrow black case.

Antonio and his group were near the entrance of the cave. Ezra was standing with Elder Venclaire, just as Pearl and Jack were each standing with Elder Fergus and Elder Nelson, separately, a few feet away, but they were all watching as I opened my gift. As I lifted the lid, the gleam of shiny metal glinted off the sun into my eyes. I squinted as I smiled, pulling out one of the two short swords inside.

“A Cizano,” I murmured, happy that I knew the proper term. I had actually paid attention in my combat classes at King Hall. It was a Shifter short sword, made with metal and bits of silver, magically enchanted to withstand the use of my Shifter strength, unlike the normal swords we practiced with down in the arena. The blade was curved deadly, and the handle was wrapped in black leather, made for my smaller hand. I pulled the other out, and stepped back, rotating my wrists, making them sing in the air. They fit perfectly. “They’re beautiful. Thank you.”

Both of us ignoring the fact that Antonio disappeared from where he was standing, he nodded and said, “Just don’t forget you can rip their heads off with your bare hands.” He rubbed his side. “You’re definitely strong enough.”

I chuckled, pointing one of the swords at him. “I was giving you payback.”

His lips twitched. “I know.”

Antonio reappeared holding that brown leather book in his hands while reading from it.

As that was never a good thing, everyone froze, staring at him. His gaze was avid, eyes darting back and forth, before he flipped the page. He blinked. Snapped the book shut. Sluggishly, his golden gaze found mine. And instantly, my blues eyes were as guarded as his, void of all emotion. He didn’t say anything, and I didn’t ask. It was there in the set of his shoulders. Something nasty — possibly on this trip — was about to transpire for me.

Surrounding me, everyone held their collective breaths, like I was a dead woman walking.

Ezra’s predator growled wildly, his eyes flashing at Antonio. “What do you know?”

“It’s not for me to say,” Antonio murmured, his head dipping to stare at the sand.

“Bullshit!” Ezra stated harshly. “If you know she’s going to encounter trouble in this, take more protection with you!” He brushed off Elder Venclaire’s hand when the Elder tried to quiet him.

Antonio’s chest heaved, and shaking his head slightly, he stated quietly, “She travels the journey alone.” And he turned his back to everyone, rubbing his forehead.

Tense silence ensued at his cryptic words while I tried to regulate my breathing.

“You know what? Fuck your damn rules,” Ezra spewed, frustration and anger — and fear — riding his features, hardening them. “I’m going with her.” He pointed between me and him, starting to stalk my way. “And she’s going with me afterward.”

Taking a calming breath, I placed the swords back in the case, closing it carefully. My hands were shaking the tiniest bit, but I kept it together, not dropping the case as I picked it up. Nor did I drop it when Elder Zeller blurred directly in front of the stalking Ezra. I managed to keep a firm grip on the case when Ezra completely lost it, taking a swing at his dad, who had tried gripping Ezra’s shoulders to keep his son in place.

His dad ducked, cursing under his breath before plowing into Ezra’s middle and taking him onto his back, sand flying in all directions from underneath them. Cahal held an instant forearm to Ezra’s throat, restraining him when Ezra’s fangs extended. I was pretty sure the only thing that kept this from becoming a real fight was the fact that they were father and son. Elder Venclaire was correct not to intervene.

“Stop,” Cahal said in a deep, calming tone. “Just stop, son.”

Ezra growled, but stared up at him, not throwing any more punches. “Give me one fucking reason other than ‘it’s the way it has always been done’ that proves we can’t,” a pause, “all go together to protect the other.” His nostrils flared.

Instant. “The spell doesn’t work if you have another Mys, other than the Prodigy, nearby. It’s not only an ancient spell of finding; it’s also one of protection.”

Truth.

Ezra’s jaw clenched, his eyes closing as he figured this out on his own.

“Well, now that the fun and games are over,” Elder Harcourt clapped his wrinkled hands together from the entrance of the cave, startling me because I hadn’t even realized he was there, “it’s time to do the spell.”

Elder Nelson’s wide gaze went from Cahal and Ezra to Elder Harcourt, and he quickly herded Pearl over to him, probably praying she didn’t pull any of the theatrics that were happening out here. If he only knew. Elder Fergus even physically shoved Jack toward Elder Harcourt in his haste, muttering under his breath about Bonnie and Clyde bullshit. Which was more right than he knew.

I stared as Cahal whispered something at Ezra’s ear, to which Ezra slowly nodded. My heart swelled because I probably would have lost it just like Ezra with our emotions as raw as they were. Cahal whispered something else, getting the same response from Ezra, before he lifted his arm off his son’s throat. Ezra lay there for a few seconds longer than necessary after Cahal stood. His dad lowered his hand to him, and Ezra smashed his into it, letting his dad yank him to his feet.

“Well,” King Kincaid cleared his throat, gently nudging me in the direction of Elder Harcourt, “I think it’s safe to say you’ve been lying to me.” He rubbed his chest. “At least the others haven’t figured it out.” He didn’t seem too upset that I had been devious.

A hysterical giggle almost escaped, but I quickly bit it off and turned my back to him, heading toward the Mage. The only few out here that didn’t know about Ezra and I were Elder Harcourt, Elder Fergus, and Elder Nelson. There was nothing else to do but walk headlong into a fate I knew was going to be filled with turmoil, sans a furiously protective Ezra.

I stood next to Jack, Pearl on the other side of him, the three of us facing Elder Harcourt. Ezra moved to stand next to me, just a little too close, but I wasn’t about to move away because he was still growling quietly in his chest. I didn’t miss how his dad stood directly behind him, either.

Elder Harcourt glanced at Ezra, his lips twitching as he hobbled to stand straight in front of him. Crazy damn man. His head tilted as he stared Ezra in the eyes, then rooted around in his pants pocket, mumbling, “They’re in here somewhere.” A pause. “Wait. Other pocket.” He jammed his other hand in the other pocket, pulling out two tiny pairs of white dice.

“Hold your hand out, King Zeller,” Elder Harcourt instructed.

I blinked, then jolted, realizing he was talking to Ezra. That was the first time someone had called Ezra by that name. Even Ezra stood there motionless, blinking at Elder Harcourt, until I nudged him in the ribs covertly…well, as stealthily as I could with everyone standing in a circle around us, watching avidly. Ezra glanced down, his gaze still narrowed, but his growl cut off as his eyes met mine. I jerked my head toward Elder Harcourt, whispering, “Your hand.”

Real slow-like, he blinked, then held his hand out, eyes still on me. He leaned down, breathing against my ear, “You had better fucking call me every goddamn chance you get.” He straightened only when his dad cleared his throat behind him.

Elder Harcourt dropped one of the die onto Ezra’s palm, then placed his own palm on top of Ezra’s, gripping his hand. His eyes glowed, and I had to stop myself from stepping back as Elder Harcourt’s power began swirling around us. Ezra went rigid as Elder Harcourt lowered his head, placing his lips to the back of his wrinkled hand…and blew out a sharp breath.

Ezra jerked, but didn’t yank his hand away. Elder Harcourt released him, and the die glowed red and black in Ezra’s palm. Ezra sucked in a harsh breath, whispering, “Female.”

Elder Harcourt grinned. “The first female Prodigy Vampire.” He patted Ezra’s shoulder. “Go get her.”

Ezra stared down at his hand, slowly gripping the die hard.

Elder Harcourt hobbled a step over, standing in front of me.

I waited, wanting to hear him say it.

He chuckled. “Please hold out your hand, Queen Ruckler.”

I grinned and did as told.

He repeated the process, his power feeling purely of time and spells as he touched me. Only training kept me from blasting each of us apart in an invisible explosion. When he breathed life into the die, I almost turned to leave, feeling the instant pull to find the small life force. I grunted, widening my stance, murmuring, “Male.” Inside my glowing black die was the knowledge of a two-year-old male.

Elder Harcourt smiled, nodding, and moved down the line.

Jack’s glowed red. A fire elemental. Male.

Pearl’s glowed golden. Male.

“All of you stay safe while you’re out there,” Elder Harcourt said softly, shuffling back a step.

“East,” Pearl murmured. “I need to go east.”

“North-west,” Jack whispered, staring at his die.

Ezra and I glanced at each other.

His dad had said the spell didn’t work when other Mysticals were nearby, which had been the truth…and yet…it was working just fine right now.

Ezra’s lips curved in a tiny, vicious private smile. “West.” One eyebrow rose in question, but I knew my direction didn’t really matter either way.

I bit my lip to keep from grinning. “South-west.”

Five minutes later, Ezra and I gave heartfelt goodbyes to Pearl, who was taking Elder Harcourt, and Jack, who was taking a newly arrived Elder fire Elemental I didn’t know, and gave them pointed looks. We couldn’t all go together because they wanted us back as soon as possible, which was completely understandable, but that didn’t mean Jack and Pearl couldn’t travel together.

Afterward, as I sat on the beach, I wasn’t sure Pearl had understood, but Jack had definitely gotten the hint, tugging her away before they left. Now, I was waiting for Antonio to gather a few belongings and listening to Ezra’s voice in my ear — enjoying his use of the old form of Vamp communication — who stood down the beach with a few other Elder Vampires, who were all gossiping about the fact that the Prodigy Vampire was a female. Staring at the waves rolling in, I couldn’t help but smile as he continued to purr very naughty comments in my ear, even after he was done explaining a modest, but effective plan.

“I’m hungry,” I grumbled forty minutes later, driving my Hummer through the fourth town on the beachside road. “Let’s get some grub.”

Antonio stared. “That’s the first thing you’ve said since we left.” His fingers ticked on the passenger side door. “You aren’t going to pry for information about what I said earlier?”

“Nope.” My concentration was elsewhere, making sure I didn’t mess up Ezra’s instructions. “You wouldn’t tell me, anyway.” That had been obvious from his own silence.

He stared a moment longer. “Alright.” He began glancing around the town, which sucked for our plan. Ezra and I didn’t know this area, so his directives had been vague. Go figure, the fourth damn town had tons of fast-food joints. “Where would you like to eat?”

“Um…,” I glanced about, “not sure yet.”

Ezra had planned to steal a car, since he didn’t have one of his own to use. The downside of that was I had no clue what the car looked like.

“Chinese?” Antonio pointed.

I shook my head. “No.” That didn’t sound right.

His finger flicked the other way. “Pizza?”

“Doesn’t sound good.” Nor particularly correct.

“Oh,” Antonio sat forward, waving his finger, “there’s a Mexican place.”

I sat straighter, glancing where he was aiming his finger. Now that sounded about right amongst all the normal fast-food joints. The first time we had taken a private stand against the Coms and Kings had been at a Mexican restaurant. I felt my lips curl. “Yeah. Good pick.”

Antonio smiled smugly, rubbing his flat belly. “I haven’t had good Mexican food in a while.”

Turning into the parking lot, my lips twitched. Hopefully, he didn’t get indigestion after he figured out what we had planned. Oh, well. He should know better by now than to not expect Ezra and me to ignore the rules.

The place was small and intimately lit, so when we entered I had to pause to let my eyes adjust to the darker lighting. The hostess, a Com woman who appeared beaten from the lunch rush, still managed to smile brightly at Antonio as she grabbed menus, asking, “Just the two of you?”

Furtively, I squinted through the lighting, focusing to make sure my eyes didn’t start glowing. There were only a few people sitting at the maroon booths, but I instantly glanced into the back corners. Bit my lip when I didn’t see anyone. This had to be the place.

“Just two,” Antonio told her, his eyes also dancing around the interior. “And we’d like to sit at one of those tables,” he tilted his head, “in the corner.” Safety first.

When we were seated in a round booth, the Com done trying to flirt with a non-receptive Antonio, I pretended to look at the menu while Antonio really did, asking me, “What are you going to get?”

I sucked in a large breath, staring at the door. “Ezra.”

Antonio paused, and then chuckled quietly. “I don’t believe he’s on the menu, kiddo.”

I squirmed on the seat, trying to keep from jumping out of it. No, Ezra wasn’t on the menu, but he was now standing inside the door of the restaurant with Cahal. I watched as he scanned the area, and saw his teeth flash when he noticed us…and when Cahal smacked him upside his head when he saw us, too. The hostess handed them menus, then waved them on back when Ezra pointed to us as he rubbed his head, still grinning. Turning my attention to Antonio, I said quietly, “You love me, right?”

He blinked, his golden gaze meeting mine over his menu. “Yes.” That was a wary affirmative.

“Trust me?”

A pause. “With my life? Yes. With your own life? No.”

“Thank you, I think…and don’t be mad at me.” My smile was hopeful. “I know what I’m doing.”

“That, I’m definitely not agreeing with,” he stated, lowering his menu. “What’s going on?”

I bit my lip, tilting my head toward Cahal and Ezra, who were almost on us.

His gaze altered. Widened. “Jesus, Lil.”

I waved my hands at him. “Don’t get upset.” I scooted closer to Antonio, giving Ezra room to sit next to me. “The spell still works.”

Ezra practically squashed me, he sat so close, throwing an arm on top of the curved booth behind my head. “Dad said it didn’t work when other Mys were near, but all four of us were able to tell which direction we need to go.”

Cahal was still standing while Antonio was sitting, but both of them stared with the same expressions. Total and complete exasperation. Cahal shook his head first, finally taking a seat, which was a little snug since we hadn’t asked for the biggest booth, but doable after Antonio adjusted to be closer to me, squashing my other side. As Antonio began rubbing his temples, his elbows on the table, Cahal stated bluntly, “The spell won’t work when you’re closer to the Prodigies. It will give you the general location, but it will falter once you’re close. So again, the spell doesn’t work when another Mystical is close by.”

Ezra shrugged his massive shoulders. “That works for us. Once we get to that point, we’ll hang back, but still be close enough to help if it’s needed, and let each other go alone. But, up until that point,” another shrug even though his eyes were dead serious, “we’re going together.” And then he smiled. It wasn’t pretty. “If you two have an issue with that, you can go back to the cave. This is how we’re doing it, with or without your consent.”

I rested my head against Ezra’s chest, enjoying how he instantly rested his chin on top of my head. “And the beauty is that we’re not breaking any Laws because it’s only tradition.” In other words, they couldn’t haul us back with them to King Cave and threaten us to do as they wished.

There was a beat of silence, and then Cahal glared at Antonio. “Did you know about this?” He waved a hand at us. “They’re skating a fine line between jail and insubordination.”

Antonio sighed, his shoulders lowering with the action, and dropped his hands from his temples onto the table, turning his own glare on Cahal. “No, I didn’t know they were going to do this.” Truth. “They’re also right, unless you can think of a Law I’ve somehow,” he threw his hands in the air and thumped back on the booth, further smashing me and knocking into Cahal at the same time, “forgotten.” He thrust a thumb in my direction. “She may be God-awful at history, but her memory of the Law is indisputable.”

Cahal stared at me, his dark eyes unreadable, for what seemed like forever, and then he muttered, “No, I can’t think of a damn thing we could do to them Lawfully.” He smiled, letting me know he wasn’t opposed to going outside the Law.

I managed to hold his gaze, gripping Ezra’s thigh tight when I felt him start to lean forward. “You’d have to catch us first.” My grin was just as sweet. “I can mask better than anyone you know, and I’m betting Ezra could do it if he tried hard enough.” I shrugged. “Add in everything Antonio’s taught me,” my grin grew, “and you wouldn’t have a chance.”

Antonio flicked my forehead. “I also taught you not to provoke those stronger than you.”

I rubbed my forehead, but didn’t look away from Cahal’s unwavering gaze.

Finally, his dark eyes lifted to where Ezra was still resting his chin on top of my head. “Is she as good as she thinks she is?”

Instant. “If she wanted to disappear, none of us would be able to find her.”

Dark eyes landed back on me, then he grunted. “Makes sense for who raised you.”

I couldn’t really argue that point since it was true.

“So,” Ezra’s arm lowered from the top of the booth and hooked over my shoulder to intertwine his fingers with mine, “we’re good?”

Neither answered, but instead picked up their menus and started perusing the choices, which was answer enough. They weren’t leaving, and they weren’t hauling us out of the place.

Tilting my head to the side, I grinned up at Ezra. “What took you so long?” They had left before us.

Ezra lifted his own menu, his lips twitching as a waitress arrived. “Just a sec.” The waitress, who also tried to flirt with Antonio, took our orders then sauntered away, her hips sashaying. Snickering quietly at the woman’s antics, I glanced back up at Ezra for his reason. He smirked, damn near pulling me onto his lap as he re-positioned himself. “Dad had issues with me borrowing,” his dad sniffed, “a car…then, after listening to him lecture, when I did finally find one to borrow, he had issues with the vehicle itself.”

His dad’s nose rose. “He picked a…,” he blinked, “what did you call that atrocity?”

“A POS.”

His dad nodded. “Well, he tried to get me to ride in a,” he said it like it was a type, “POS.”

Antonio snorted, coughing quickly.

Cahal’s eyebrows slammed together even as Ezra and I kept stoically blank expressions while he glared at Antonio. “What?”

Antonio drummed his fingers on the table, drawling, “Do you even know what a POS is?”

Cahal’s expression didn’t change, but it was like I could see the wheels turning rapidly in his intelligent mind. His gaze narrowed slightly. A few beats later, he stated, “A piece of shit.”

“Good guess,” Antonio muttered, and then took his drink, which the waitress held out. Only his drink, and no one else’s, just so she could sashay those hips again as she left. Casually, Antonio asked, “So…what did you end up with?”

Cahal sniffed. “A Jaguar.”

This time, I chuckled and couldn’t stop it. “You guys are riding with us.”

“Why?” Cahal asked. “You have a utility vehicle.” It wasn’t a compliment.

Ezra sighed. “Dad, there’s a reason why I dropped the car off blocks away and made us walk here.” His thumb lazily brushed back and forth over mine where we were holding hands. “New and expensive cars normally have GPS systems to track them if they’re stolen.”

Cahal stared. “How is it that you know which car is best to steal? Or even how to steal one in the first place?”

Ezra’s lips twitched. “I learned a few things when I left California.”

“When you went on your unscheduled tour of the world?” Cahal’s jaw was clenched.

“Yes,” Ezra cleared his throat, pointing vaguely, “You’d better contact Mom now.”

Cahal’s expression instantly changed to caution.

I blinked, understanding the genius of Ezra’s evasive tactic.

Antonio laughed outright. “You didn’t tell her?”

Cahal mumbled, “You haven’t got a damn clue,” he rubbed his forehead, “The woman has a pair of lungs on her I normally enjoy…unless she’s upset.” Then his eyes went distant, and I realized he and Vivian had telepathy as their mate gift. The rest of our drinks arrived while he was communicating with her, but the waitress didn’t seem to notice his pained expression, staring at Antonio as she was. A minute later, he blinked, then nodded to Ezra. “She’s going to be,” Ezra’s cell rang in his pocket, “calling you.”

Ezra sighed and had to stand to get his cell, we were so crammed. “Yes, Mom?” He sat back down. And I literally pulled my head away from him when I heard the screeching over the line made by one Vivian Zeller. Antonio even rubbed at his ear as Ezra murmured, “Mom…I’m fine…Mom…I…no, of course not…wait…uh…yes, I will…it’s not…that…,” he sighed heavily, “I will. I love you, too.”

My chin was trembling in an effort not to laugh at them. Both Ezra and Cahal had the same pained expressions on their faces now. It didn’t help when Antonio pointed his beer at Cahal, stating, “I almost feel sorry for you.” He chuckled, the sound evil. “Almost.”

Cahal rubbed at his temple. “Fuck off.”